South Africa's Dunlop Tyres invests R1.7 billion to expand production

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Dunlop Tyres South Africa has completed a three-year capital investment programme totalling R1.7-billion at its uMnambithi (Ladysmith) plant in KwaZulu-Natal, aimed at expanding tyre production capacity for the local automotive industry and regional export markets. The investment programme, supported by parent company Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) of Japan, has added polymer mixing machines, tread and sidewall production lines, and introduced next-generation curing technology to the plant.

The capacity upgrade covers passenger car, SUV and light truck tyres, primarily serving original equipment (OE) manufacturers and export orders. The uMnambithi plant is a key supply node for major vehicle assembly plants including Toyota, Isuzu, Ford, Volkswagen and Nissan, and its upgrade has also strengthened Dunlop's export network across 23 African countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Côte d'Ivoire, Zambia and Zimbabwe, while supporting the new AT31 tyre for the Toyota Hilux.

Sumitomo Rubber Industries President and Chief Executive Officer Yasuaki Kuniyasu said at the inauguration ceremony of the upgraded uMnambithi plant that South Africa holds an important position in the company's global strategy. He noted that the automotive industry is one of the key sectors underpinning South Africa's economy and employment, and that supplying high-quality tyres consistently to OE customers is both a responsibility and a source of pride. The new equipment enables the plant to produce next-generation low rolling resistance tyres, which reduce energy consumption and help vehicle manufacturers meet increasingly stringent global vehicle emissions and efficiency regulations.

Dunlop Tyres South Africa Chief Executive Officer Lubin Ozoux said at the event that this investment involves not only infrastructure and technology upgrades, but also enables the uMnambithi plant to produce the next generation of tyres required by vehicle manufacturers and consumers. He noted that the new technology improves quality, efficiency and performance, while supporting the production of ultra-low rolling resistance tyres to meet future emissions and efficiency requirements.

Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau spoke at the ceremony, thanking the company for its continued investment in South Africa. He said this R1.7-billion investment in local manufacturing requires a fair and competitive environment to be sustained, and noted that government is reviewing the South African Automotive Masterplan and its APDP2 support instruments to assess performance against its 2035 employment, localisation and growth targets, while developing a policy framework for new energy vehicles. Tau stated that the answer to import pressure is not retreat, but competitiveness.

The uMnambithi plant is a major employer in the uThukela district. Between 2014 and 2022, direct employment at the plant grew by 41%, and it currently employs more than 1,500 people, of whom 81% come from the local Alfred Duma municipality and 87% from the wider surrounding area.